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General Director David Gockley’s final season features some of his favorites: Verdi’s Don Carlo, Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd, Janáček’s Jenůfa and a new production of Carmen. Secure your seats and subscribe today!

San Francisco Opera invites you and your family to attend FREE screenings of our Opera-in-an-Hour Movies presented throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. To learn about where you can catch a screening of our family friendly operas, click here.

Returning to San Francisco Opera is especially poignant for me. Although I had already sung some roles professionally beginning in 1972, my big debut was here on the stage of the Memorial Opera House on Sept 13, 1974 as the Maestro di Ballo to Leontyne Price's first Manon Lescaut. Back then there were no apprentice programs, Adler Fellows, or Merola. I was fortunate in that I had worked with Otto Guth, Kurt Adler's right-hand man, at Curtis Institute in Philadelphia where I was completing a post graduate opera degree. Through his recommendation I was invited to sing in San Francisco, where Mr. Adler offered me a number of wonderful roles.

10) Be thankful that I’m working with such talented Opera Ball Co-chairs, Anne Marie Massocca and Susan Tamagni. Together with the Opera Ball Committee and SF Opera Guild professional staff, we will surely plan an incredible evening for all!

9) From a practical perspective, select a gown by June so that I don’t need to shop during the summer. Ana Castillo of Neiman Marcus makes it easy! Frances Diniz of Wellendorff’s Boutique at Shreve & Co. is a great help with accessorizing.

Our 2011-12 Season opens on Friday, September 9 with Giacomo Puccini’s beloved opera Turandot. But, before we get to the opera, the people need to eat! This year we celebrate the start of our 89th season with Opera Ball 2011—A Night in the Forbidden City and Bravo! Club’s Opening Night Gala. A decadent evening of celebration, these galas truly kick off the philanthropic season in San Francisco. And let’s not forget that amidst all the revelry, these events raise a whole lot of money to fund San Francisco Opera and the Opera Guild’s fantastic educational programs throughout Bay Area schools.

Introduction

Backstage at San Francisco Opera is a fascinating, fast-moving, mysterious and sacred space for the Company’s singers, musicians, dancers, technicians and production crews. Musical and staging rehearsals are on-going, scenery is loaded in and taken out, lighting cues are set, costumes and wigs are moved around and everything is made ready to receive the audience. From the principal singers, chorus and orchestra musicians to the creative teams for each opera, in addition to the many talented folks who don’t take a bow on stage, this blog offers unique insight, both thought-provoking and light-hearted, into the life backstage at San Francisco Opera.